The Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Emergency Management Agency held a public hearing in Kalona yesterday to discuss a special flood hazard area. Jason Conn from the Iowa DNR says they presented a flood plain map to Kalona on September 30, 2010 at the request of city officials. During this meeting, DNR and FEMA representatives spoke with citizens about the flood risks, the mandatory purchase of flood insurance, and about joining the National Flood Insurance Program.

If the city decides to join the National Flood Insurance Program, purchasing flood insurance is not mandatory, but it makes the process easier for anyone to obtain flood insurance. Conn says the area around Kalona that is affected is considered the 100-year flood plain.

He says that means there is a one percent chance of a flood occurring in the area each year. Conn says approximately three-fourths of the properties in Kalona are in this flood plain. He shares that it takes about four to six weeks to join the National Flood Insurance Program if Kalona city officials choose to do so. Conn says the maps of affected area are not final yet and will become official on September 29th. If anyone has any questions regarding the flood plain information, they can contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by emailing Jason at Jason.Conn@dnr.iowa.gov.